Keeping Your Berries Fresh

Keeping Your Berries Fresh

One of the Prairieland Food directors, June Glasgow found a great little gem of information on saving berries and we’d like to share that information as it is so welcome this time of year. Blueberries, strawberries and blackberries are favorites at our home but many people really prefer raspberries when berry season rolls around.

Aside from the pure joy of being visually appealing and energizing our taste centers, berries are a heart healthy food. Whatever berry you like best, it is full of anti-inflammatories, which reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.

If you’re a berry lover too, you already know that berries don’t stay fresh long, and especially raspberries seem to grow mold overnight, even when just purchased. Whatever your favorite berries are, here is a great tip to keep them fresh longer when you get them home.

How to keep your berries fresh longer – a recipe for berry lovers!

Prepare in a large bowl
1 – 1 part vinegar – white or apple cider.
2 – 10 parts water and stir around until blended.
3 – Add berries and swirl in mixture.
4 – Drain, rinse if you want (however the mixture is so diluted you can’t taste the vinegar.)
5 – Place in container and keep in the fridge.

This would equate to —
5 cups of water and 1/2 cup vinegar or
10 cups water and 1 cup vinegar.

“The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit, and voila! Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft. So go forth and stock up on those pricey little gems, knowing they’ll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them.”